2125 J. PURDEY NO. 8360 A BAR-IN-WOOD THUMB HOLE HAMMER

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Nov 07 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 5,000.00 USD
Estimated at 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
GUN IN HIGH "AS FOUND" CONDITION WITH ORIGINAL CASE, ESSENTIALLY ALL ACCESSORIES & FACTORY LETTER. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-1/2". S# 8360. This elegant gun is one of a pair built in 1871 for two members of the same family; No. 8359 was built for F.R. Rives, while this gun, No. 8360 was built for W.C. Rives. Both sons of William Cabell Rives former member of the U.S. Senate. The Rives' are one of the "First Families" of Virginia. This gun has 30" fine damascus barrels engraved "J. Purdey 314 1/2 Oxford Street London" on narrow, slightly swamped game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs. Extractor system is of early yoke type. Bottoms of barrels are unstamped. Case hardened bar-in-wood late type thumb hole action is fitted with non-rebounding bar locks having tall round bodied serpentine hammers. Action and locks are engraved with very well cut small scroll as most likely done by James Lucas, head engraver. "Purdey" is on each lockplate. "Patent" is on top of action and "Purdey's Patent" is on bottom of action. Open scroll is on opening lever and trigger guard which has S# on tang. Straight grip buttstock made of lightly stump figured and nicely marbled European walnut measures 14-3/8" over checkered wood butt. Flat top point pattern checkering is at grip and a silver oval engraved "WCR" is on toeline. Matching fully checkered splinter forend with inlet steel tip attaches to barrels with sidebolt through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons. Actioner's initial "P" (most likely A. Philips) is on iron. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .738. R .738. Restriction: L .000 (cyl). R .000 (cyl). (Gun made before choke boring came into general use.) Wall Thickness: L .029. R .026. STOCK: DAH: 2-1/16". DAC: 1-1/2". CAST: about 1/4" off. LOP: 14-3/8". WEIGHT: 7 lb. 1 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in its original leather case embossed W.C.R. on top. Interior is lined in scarlet cloth. A blue printed correct vintage Purdey label is in lid, along with charge card for this particular gun. Bottom compartment contains an array of original loading tools and accessories including ebony and German silver wad rammer, crimping tool, priming base, shot and powder dippers. Other accessories include ebony handled striker key, turn screw, a pull through cleaning kit, broken case extractor by Dixon, and a barrel plug for cleaning. A small cardboard box inscribed with this guns S# listing original contents including side nail, plungers, nipples and spring; presently contains 2 firing pins and a turn screw bit. Cleaning equipment includes 2 piece short handle type brass and mahogany cleaning rod along with mop, jag and Turks head. Various other cleaning brushes are in red Morocco wallet. Purdey Factory Letter indicating gun was completed in 1871 for W.C. Rives and confirming current stock dimensions. (Ledger entry on back of copy indicates pair built for F.R. & W.C. Rives). CONDITION: fine. Original "as found". Barrels retaining most of their original brown with considerable overall pin prick cleaned oxidation. Action retains most of its original case hardening color; has turned to brown on bottom. Locks retain about 90% original color. About 70% blue remains on trigger guard; thumb lever has mostly flaked to brown. Stocks retain over 90% original finish with a fairly large amount of marks, dings, bumps and scratches. Checkering shows light wear, mostly on forend. There are marks on forend from side nail removal that are fairly deep. Bores are fine, shiny with some very light pitting at breech ends with a very minor dent in right barrel about 13" behind muzzle. Action is tight; locks are crisp. Case leather is still relatively light in color with a good number of stains and chips. Straps and handle missing. Interior cloth shows considerable insect damage especially in lid. Purdey label has five rubs through and chipping but is basically good and legible. Charge card is foxed. Partitions are good. Accessories are generally good to fine. Spare parts box has old tape repairs; top detached. A good example of what many feel is the most visually appealing gun ever designed. PROVENANCE: Malcolm G. MacGregor Collection. (01-29002/MGM). ANTIQUE. $10,000-15,000.